Mr. Perry presented the Petition of the Town Council of Cahawba,
praying remuneration for building a bridge over the Cahawba River;
which was read, and referred to a select committee, consisting
of Messrs. Perry, McKinley, and Isbell.

Mr. McMeans presented the Petition of sundry inhabitants of
the Town of Cahawba, praying the repeal of certain laws therein
named, which was read, and referred to a select committee, consisting
of Messrs. McMeans, Chapman and Cook.

Mr. Perkins presented the petition of William M. Marr, praying
exemption from the payment of rent on Seminary land, for reasons
therein named, which was read and referred to a select committee
consisting of Messrs. Perkins, Chambers and Walker.

Mr. Moore, of Madison, presented the Petition of sundry citizens
of Hazle Green, in the county of Madison, praying an act to establish
a Town at said place, which was read and referred to a select
committee, consisting of Messrs. Moore of Madison, Clay and Morton.

Mr. McVay presented the petition of sundry inhabitants of St.
Clair county, praying that the Legislature may designate the seat
of Justice for said county, which was read.

(13)

On motion of Mr. Coleman, Ordered, that the said Petition
lie on the table.

Mr. Moore of Madison, from the select committee to whom was
referred that part of the Governor's message which relates to
the Revenue, submitted the following report, to wit:

The committee to whom was referred that part of His Excellency's
the acting Governor's communication which relates to the revenue,
have had the same under consideration, and as far as practicable
have informed themselves of the progress that has been made under
the laws that were passed at the last session for raising a revenue
for the support of Government.

From the best information they can obtain, assessments have
been made in several of the counties and the collectors have made
considerable progress in collecting; in some counties there has
been only partial assessments made, from the officers appointed
to assess, refusing to act, and in two counties (Lawrence and
Jackson) there has been no assessments from the omission of the
county in those counties in appointing assessors.

Your committee under all the circumstances connected with this
system have no hesitation in saying that in their opinion the
mode of giving in land according to its class will be much less
inconvenient and produce a more uniform and equitable tax than
any other that can be devised; and were there not insurmountable
difficulties in the way; from collections having been partially
made in many of the counties, and before a new law could be passed
and generally known, collections will be made to some extent in
all, they should not hesitate to recommend a repeal of all that
has been done under the law that passed at the last session, and
recommend a new law upon the principles of classification. Your
committee are fully apprised of the difficulty of digesting any
plan at this time, that will be free from inconvenience and difficulties,
but as far as they can judge, the best alternative that now remains,
is to pass a supplement to the existing Laws, which will embrace
the property that has not been assessed upon equitable and fair
principles; by repealing that part of the first section of an
act to raise a revenue for the support of Government for the year
1821, as requires the value of the land, to be ascertained and
returned upon the oath or affirmation, as the case may be of the
owner or owners.

David Moore, Chairman.

And the said report being read, Mr. Moore of Madison, introduced
a bill, to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act
to provide for raising and collecting of taxes, and for taking
the census of this state, passed at the second session of the
General Assembly on the 22d day of December 1820, the said bill
being read, on motion of Mr. Armstrong of Mobile, Ordered,
That 100 copies of the said bill be printed for the use of
the members of this House, and the same be the order of the day
for a second reading to-morrow.

Mr. Armstrong of Mobile obtained leave to bring in a bill to
be entitled an act imposing a tax on resident, and transient persons,
importing

(14)

goods, wares or merchandize into the city of Mobile and town
of Blakeley, which was read a first time, and the rule being dispensed
with, it was read a second time, Ordered, That the said
bill be referred to a committee of the whole House, and made the
order of the day for to-morrow.

Mr. Clay from the select committee to whom was referred the
Petition of Malcolm Gilchrist, reported the following bill: a
bill to be entitled an act to authorise Malcolm Gilchrist to build
a mill on the Muscle Shoals, which was read a first time, and
the rule being dispensed with, was read a second time, and ordered
to be engrossed, and made the order of the day for its third reading
to-morrow.

Mr. Perkins from the select committee to whom was referred
a bill to be entitled an act to repeal the second section of an
act passed the 20th December, 1820, to establish certain election
precincts therein named, and for other purposes, reported the
same with amendments.

The bill was then read a second time, and the House on motion,
concurred in the amendments, Ordered, that the said bill
be engrossed and made the order of the day for its third reading
to-morrow.

Mr. Smoot obtained leave to bring in a bill to be entitled
an act to authorize executors, administrators, and guardians to
relinquish lands under the act of Congress, passed the 2nd day
of March, 1821, which was read a first time, and the rule being
dispensed with, it was read a second time forthwith, Ordered,
That the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole House,
and made the order of the day for its third reading to-morrow.

Mr. McKinley obtained leave to bring in a bill to be entitled
an act to repeal in part, and amend an act entitled an act to
regulate the proceedings in the courts of Law and Equity in this
state, which was read a first time, Ordered, that the said
bill be read a second time to-morrow.

Mr. Perkins obtained leave to introduce a joint resolution
authorizing Gurdon Saltonstall and William L. Adams, to examine
Tuskaloosa river, which was read the first time, and ordered for
a second reading to-morrow.

A bill to be entitled an act to apportion Representatives among
the several counties of this state; and to divide the state into
Senatorial districts, according to the returns of the late census,
was read a second time.

Mr. Chambers moved to amend the second section by inserting
between the words "Green" and "and" the word
"Pickens" which was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Chambers moved to amend the first section by inserting
between the words "Marion" and "one" the words
"and that part of Pickens taken from Marion" and by
inserting between the words "Tuskaloosa" and "three"
the words "and that part of Pickens taken from Tuskaloosa"
which was decided in the affirmative. Ordered, That the
said bill be engrossed, and made the order of the day for its
third reading to-morrow.

(15)

A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act
to establish a Bank in the Town of Mobile, passed at St. Stephens
20th November, 1818, was read a third time and passed. Ordered,
that the words "a bill to be entitled" be stricken out.

A bill to be entitled an act to alter and amend the militia
Law of this state, was read a second time. On motion of Mr. Shackleford,
Ordered, that said bill lie on the table.

A bill to be entitled an act concerning executions and for
other purposes was read a second time.

Mr. Weedon moved that the said bill be referred to a select
committee, consisting of Messrs. Weedon, Doxey, Perkins, Fitzpatrick
of Montgomery and Smoot.

A bill to be entitled an act to alter the times of holding
courts in the third circuit of this State was read a second time,
and committed to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Perkins,
Perry and McKinley.

A bill to be entitled an act prescribing the manner of taking
depositions, was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading to-morrow.

A bill to be entitled an act to fix and reduce the compensation
of the members of the General Assembly, was read a second time,
and ordered to be engrossed and made the order of the day for
its third reading to-morrow.

The House then adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.

Evening Session.

Mr. McVay from the committee to whom was referred the report
of the commissioners on Bylers Turnpike road, reported the following
bill: a bill to be entitled an act to amend an act passed at Huntsville
Dec. 16, 1819, entitled an act to establish a public road therein
named, which was read a first time, and the rule being dispensed
with it was read a second time. On motion of Mr. McKinley, ordered
that the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole House,
and made the order of the day for to-morrow.

Mr. Morton obtained leave to introduce a bill to be entitled
an act supplementary to an act entitled an act to prevent obstructing
or diverting from the natural channel any water course which would
otherwise flow thro' the land of any other person, passed at Cahawba
Dec.18, 1820, which was read a first time, and the rule being
suspended, it was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed
for a third reading to-morrow.

Mr. Jno. Brown moved to take up the bill to be entitled an
act to alter and amend the militia law of this state, which was
carried: and on motion of Mr. John Brown, the whole of the said
bill after the enacting clause was stricken out, and on further
motion of Mr. J. Brown, the said bill was amended by adding two
additional sections to the said bill.

The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
to-morrow.